Unleashing Readers

Trent and Kellee’s Favorite Books: Nine to Twelve Months

February 14, 2021February 25, 2015 by Kellee

This has been such a wonderful year! Being a mom has changed my view of the world and made me think about my place in the world; however, watching my son grow has been the most amazing thing in the world, and I have loved sharing all of the things I love about my son and being a mom.

My favorite thing to share with you all, though, is all of the amazing books Trent and I read. Check out our 0-3 month post, 3-6 month post, and 6-9 month post. Today I wanted to do an overview of Trent’s favorite books over the first year. Although there are so many wonderful books we read over this first year, these are the ones that we find ourselves reading over and over (includes primarily board books because those are easier for Trent to manipulate and sturdier so there is no tearing). To see all that we’ve read and see all of my ratings, check out my Goodreads shelf.

Trent’s Favorite Books
These are the books that Trent will dig through a pile to find when it is time to read.

Fifteen Animals by Sandra Boynton
This book will help Trent with both animals and counting. Also, it has a super fun song that goes along with the book which makes it so much fun to read!

Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton
I love this book! It is super cute, about an unusual friendship, and also has a great song (sung by Davey Jones).

Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
Pete is probably Trent’s favorite! As we read, he points at Pete and is mesmorized for the whole book. It also has a fun song (see a trend?!?!).

If I Were a Penguin… by Anne Wilkinson
This book takes us through characteristics of penguins and is a touch-and-feel book. Trent has a favorite page in this book that he’ll open up to and just rub the penguin’s wing and stare at the page for minutes.

Other Favorite Books
There’s a chance Trent will pick these too!

Kiss Kiss Good Night by Ken Kesbitt
This is probably Jim’s favorite book to read to Trent at bedtime. It is a very sweet bedtime story with animals.

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
A classic! We love watching the You Tube video that reads the story with us as well as reading the board book. This was the first book that Trent took with him in place of a toy then read in the back seat as I drove him to daycare. This warmed my heart.

Five Black Cats by Patricia Hegarty
This Halloween story is more about some rambunctious black cats. The prose is so much fun to read and the pictures are colorful which holds Trent’s attention.

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site (Sound Book) by Sherri Duskey Rinker
I love this story filled with goodnights to our favorite construction machines, and I think the sound makes it even better! The rhyming story with the sounds makes it a wonderful bedtime story.

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
This beautiful look at animals’ bedtime has such amazing artwork. Trent and I love to look at the different animals.

Go, Train, Go! by Wilbert Awdry
Such a fun Thomas the Train story. This is one that Trent has just started picking up often. We’ll have to see what happens!

I so look forward to seeing what books Trent loves over the next year!
What books should I make sure we get to?

Please also check out the video I made of photos of all 300+ books we read with him in his first year: “A First Year Full of Books”!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Heroines

February 24, 2015 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Favorite Book Heroines

Ricki

I decided to stick with fantasies because in my initial list, it felt odd to mix fantasies with nonfiction. Perhaps I will do non-fantasy heroines in a future post. You rock, ladies!

1. Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I could easily choose any Kristin Cashore female lead. She writes heroines like no other author. But Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight. That is pretty darn tough.

2. Lyra from His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Lyra is young, but she is fierce. She tries to save the world. No big deal.

3. Ismae from Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I discovered this book on audiobook, and I think it is the best audiobook that I have ever listened too. Ismae is an assassin. If you haven’t read this book and want to read about a female who kicks butt, look no further.

4. Cassia from Matched by Allie Condie

I love Cassia because she stands up for herself and follows what she believes to be good and right and true.

5. Princess Elizabeth from The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

I read this picture book many moons ago, but the heroine still sticks with me. This is a great picture book to empower young girls.

Kellee

1. Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I almost picked Fire because Ricki picked Katsa, but I couldn’t. Katsa is probably my favorite heroine of all time. She is so troubled, contemplative, strong, and hard-core, but also ends up being caring and smart. She is phenomenal.

2. Hermoine from Harry Potter by JK Rowling

I know this is cliche, but I love Hermoine. I love that a nerdy, smart girl can help save the world.

3. Zita from Zita (series) by Ben Hatke

I love Zita. She is a good friend. She is brave. She isn’t judgmental. She is smart. She is a girl that all boys will root for and all girls will long to be. And Zita doesn’t let anyone down- she is a true hero.

4. Lunch Lady from Lunch Lady (series) by Jarrett Krosoczka

Talk about the unexpected heroine! And she just keeps saving the day.

5. Kate from Matt Cruse (series) by Kenneth Oppel

Kate, like Hermoine, is brilliant beyond her years, but unlike Hermoine, she is expected to be prim and proper. Psh. Kate is not going to sit there and look pretty; she is going to jump right in, go on adventures, and get educated.

Which heroines are your favorite?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/23/15

July 27, 2015February 23, 2015 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Book Related Problems We Have

Friday: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This was a crazy week for us! I was planning for Trent’s birthday party all week, so I didn’t get much reading done though I did finish listening to The Lion of Little Rock by Kristin Levine which was so wonderful! I am so glad that I listened to it.

The only new book Trent and I read this week was How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen which I reviewed on Friday. It was a great birthday book.

Ricki: This week, I finished another book on my #mustreadin2015 list: The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. The writing was stunning, and I was happy to go back and read her guest post from last year. Everyone in my YA book club loved it, and we had a fun time discussing it. I suspect many of you have already read it, but if you haven’t I highly recommend it. I also finished The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers by Johnny Saldaña. My head is spinning at all of the coding possibilities. It was a good read, overall, though.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still reading The Cure for Dreaming which I am very much enjoying. Cat Winters is such a unique writer! In the car, I am going to start listening to The Family Romanov which I am very much looking forward to.

Ricki: Kellee has been telling me to read Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil for quite some time. I finally got around to ordering it via Interlibrary Loan and am excited to read it!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Book Heroines

Wednesday: Trent & Kellee’s Favorite Picture Books: The First Year

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

February 14, 2021February 20, 2015 by Kellee

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday?
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Mark Teague
Published September 1st, 2011 by The Blue Sky Press

Goodreads Summary: Everyone has a birthday, and from riotous birthday parties to the excitement of being one year older, having a birthday is the highlight of a young child’s year.

All little dinosaurs love to get presents, and this new board book will be an immediate favorite. From birthday hats to Ceratosaurus-sized cakes, America’s young readers will laugh out loud as the celebration moves from “bad” birthday behavior to just the right amount of silliness and sharing. Bestselling duo Jane Yolen and Mark Teague have created the perfect introduction to birthday parties, with the same beloved humor and warmth of all their previous bestselling “How Do Dinosaurs” books.

Here’s a wonderful way to say “Happy Birthday!” to any dinosaur…young or old!

My Review: I bought this book to read to Trent on every birthday, and I cannot believe that today is the first one! I decided that this was the perfect birthday book because it is super fun to read, has great dino illustrations by Mark Teague who is such a great artist, and it even teaches a nice message that will be a perfect reminder at each birthday. I am so excited to share it with him for the first time today (and his 1st birthday party is dino themed, so it’s perfect!). Which brings me back to…

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT TRENT IS ONE?!?!

This year has gone by super quickly. To commemorate, I wanted to share some of my favorite things about Trent and being a mom:

1) Trent likes books. I was so worried that I would read to him every day and that it would never lead to Trent liking books; however, that is not the case! He likes to grab his favorites (Pete the Cat, Fifteen Animals, and Personal Penguin) and flip through them or have us read to him. He’s even chosen books a few times as his toy to bring to the car on the way to daycare. I love listening to him in the back seat “reading” to himself.

2) Trent laughs with his whole self. I love when he laughs. He is a full body laugher, and it just fills his whole self and the whole room. And he does that thing where your laugh isn’t just on the exhale, it is on the inhale too. So great!

3) Trent is a super chill, super happy baby. Of course he has his melt downs, he cries when he doesn’t like something, and he cries when he’s tired/hungry/waking up; however, for the most part he is a super chill, super happy baby. His demeanor and attitude make me so proud!

4) Trent loves pop punk, dream pop, the Beatles/”Across the Universe” soundtrack, and the Snoopy song. He loves to listen to music. Trent dancing is SUPER adorable. He kind of shakes his hips and moves back and forth. It is so cute! Also, if he is upset, pop punk music surprisingly calms him down. I really think he likes all music, but these are the ones that he seems to enjoy the most.

5) The way he looks at me. Wow. That way that he looks at me is a look that could melt anyone’s heart. I knew how to love before, but this is a different type of love. It is a love that fills me up and makes me complete.

6) The way he looks at Jim. The whole son/dad thing is just the best ever. I love spying on them and watching them be so cute.

7) Watching him learn. To think that a year ago he was born and couldn’t do anything but poop, pee, and eat, and now he walks, talks, learns, etc. is just the most amazing thing in the entire world. My favorite things he’s learned recently are: how to play by himself, sign language for more, how to turn the propellers on his helicopter, pointing, and the SO BIG game.

8) Everything. I just had to cover my bases in case I forgot something 🙂

Being a mom may just be the coolest thing ever!

Happy birthday Trent! I love you!

Dreaming in Indian Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale

July 27, 2015February 19, 2015 by Ricki

Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices
Editors: Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale
Published: July 24, 2014 by Annick Press

Summary: A powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today.

Truly universal in its themes, “Dreaming In Indian” will shatter commonly held stereotypes and challenge readers to rethink their own place in the world. Divided into four sections, ‘Roots, ‘ ‘Battles, ‘ ‘Medicines, ‘ and ‘Dreamcatchers, ‘ this book offers readers a unique insight into a community often misunderstood and misrepresented by the mainstream media.

Emerging and established Native artists, including acclaimed author Joseph Boyden, renowned visual artist Bunky Echo Hawk, and stand-up comedian Ryan McMahon, contribute thoughtful and heartfelt pieces on their experiences growing up Indigenous, expressing them through such mediums as art, food, the written word, sport, dance, and fashion. Renowned chef Aaron Bear Robe, for example, explains how he introduces restaurant customers to his culture by reinventing traditional dishes. And in a dramatic photo spread, model Ashley Callingbull and photographer Thosh Collins reappropriate the trend of wearing ‘Native’ clothing.

Whether addressing the effects of residential schools, calling out bullies through personal manifestos, or simply citing hopes for the future, “Dreaming In Indian” refuses to shy away from difficult topics. Insightful, thought-provoking, and beautifully honest, this book will to appeal to young adult readers. An innovative and captivating design enhances each contribution and makes for a truly unique reading experience.

Review: I fell in love with the stunning illustrations and beautiful language of this book. I read two to three pages per night because I wanted to leave time to absorb the authors’ words and artists’ work. The eclectic mix of forms makes for a very powerful anthology that will prove enduring for readers. It features a variety of tribes, and the differing formats and content give readers a sense of both a unity across tribes and a distinctness of individuals from the different tribes. I found it to be truly inspiring and wish I could donate this book to every middle and high school classroom.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This text is obviously a great resource for teachers. It need not be used in its entirety because this text would be excellent for close readings. Whatever the format, it would be preferable to avoid using this book solely during the month of November—“Native American Heritage Month.” I align with scholars who believe that diverse cultures should be highlighted year-round and integrated within curricula, rather than solely within designated months.

Discussion Questions: In what ways are the themes of this book universal? In what way are they distinct?; What themes can you find across the works?; How does this book shed light on Indian culture?; How is the text structured? Do you find the style to be effective?

Book Trailer:

From the Authors:

Recommended For:

A Taste of Freedom: Gandhi and the Great Salt March by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

April 11, 2015February 18, 2015 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!
**This book is technically historical fiction, but I felt it was pretty darn close to nonfiction**

A Taste of Freedom: Gandhi and the Great Salt March
Author: Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Illustrator: Giuliano Ferri
February 11th, 2014 by Walker Childrens

Goodreads Summary: No one ever forgets their first taste of freedom.

Gandhi’s famous Salt March shook the foundations of the British Empire and the world, showing the strength of a people united in peace to fight for freedom. Gandhi’s march had a significant effect on changing world and British attitudes towards Indian independence, and inspired the use of non-violence in other protest movements, like the US Civil Right movement. You’ll never forget Elizabeth Cody Kimmel’s heartwarming, insightful account or Guiliano Ferri’s stunning illustrations of the event seen through the eyes of a child inspired by Gandhi’s vision for a better world.

My Review: This is a good introduction to one of the greatest, most peaceful men ever to live. Although it is a little tame about the history, it overall stays truthful to the history. I very much liked the story-telling feeling of the story and the water color and pencil drawings were so beautiful and soft.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The back matter includes a lot of information including resources to get further information, a map that shows the route of the Dandi March, and an afterword with more information about Gandhi.

Discussion Questions: Why did the young boy join the march?; How did Gandhi change India?; Who do you think is easier to respect in this story: the British or the Indians?

We Flagged:

“Gandhi and the satyagrhis are ready to leave by dawn. I join a long line of people as the Mahatma begins walking. His pace is very fast. Even Rajiv has to breathe heavily to keep up.”

Read This If You Loved: Nonfiction books about people fighting for what they believe in.

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Candlewick for providing a copy of the book**

Top Ten Tuesday: Book-Related Problems We Have

February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Book-Related Problems We Have

Ricki

1. I don’t like to leave the house.

I could honestly stay in my house for a month without going stir crazy. I love books so much that I wouldn’t mind a knee surgery to give me a reason to stay in bed and read. Date night at the movies? Um, can I just read? Better yet, let’s both read! Isn’t that the perfect date, honey?

2. I would rather read YAL than do schoolwork.

I reward myself with YAL. Okay, just a few more pages in that textbook (or just a few more papers to grade), and then I can read twenty pages as a reward!

3. Books are my decor.

And every room is a library. An interior designer would not enjoy my house. And don’t even get me started on the trunk of my car. You can never have too many books on hand—just in case you get stuck in the middle of nowhere(…for a year?).

4. Baby proofing is very difficult.

My biggest fear is that he will start to climb these bookshelves. They are bracketed to the wall, but I still worry. Also, it would be nice not to have to clean up the thirty YA books he throws on the floor each day.

5. Sleep? What is that?

Readers, you understand.

Kellee

1. Too Many Books, Too Little Time

I don’t think I really need to explain that one. I just wish there was more time to read!

2. No More Room!

My little house is actually getting taken over by books. (I actually have no more space in my son’s room to put books since his shelf is full, there are piles on his closet shelf, and on his organizer in the closet unless I start keeping some under the bed, and I just can’t bring myself to do that!) There are bookshelves everywhere and the bookshelves are overflowing and this leads to…

3. Weeding 🙁

Man! How I hate to weed! I want to keep everything! Books I’ve read and loved I want to keep even though I’ll probably not reread it. Books I need to read I obviously need to keep so I can read it. Sigh.

4. Trent Doesn’t Have a Favorite Book

My goal over Trent’s first year was to read as close to a book a day as possible. I’ve done pretty well with him reading 250 titles (and we’ve reread many books), but I haven’t really given him a chance to find a favorite book because we are always reading new ones. During this next year, I am going to let him do a lot more choosing of books, so he can find his favorites.

5. Behind on TV

I love TV too, but I would rather (or need to) read. This means I am really behind on my favorites (including The Good Wife, Mindy Project, Mom, and Law and Order: SVU!).

What book related problems do you have?

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